Well, it’s official. I am now flat-out offended by Canadians who look down their noses on the CFL…and think the NFL is the be all and end all (the only Shakespeare quote you will ever read from me…essentially because I don’t know any others).

Ottawa Redblacks weren't even around two years ago...now they're in the Grey Cup. Just another thing that makes the CFL great.

I was talking to some guys at work last Saturday about the next day’s football games and, after a moment or two, realized they were jacked about some mid-season, ho-hum NFL contests, while I was talking about the CFL’s Grey Cup Division Finals.

Twenty-one years ago today, I did something I’d never done before (or since) – I produced the Grey Cup on CBC.

"RoboKicker" Dave Ridgway hammers the biggest field goal of his career - the one that ended the greatest Grey Cup game ever played

The 9-9 Saskatchewan Roughriders, under John Gregory, were going up against the 12-6 Hamilton Tiger-Cats, under Al Bruno. It was the first Grey Cup game played in Toronto’s brand-new SkyDome. And it’s generally regarded as the greatest Grey Cup game ever played. You remember…Saskatchewan’s Dave Ridgway kicked a 35-yard field goal as the game ended, giving the green Riders their first Grey Cup in forever. Final score – SASK 43 HAM 40. And producing it was an experience unlike any other. (more…)

Over the years, the Edmonton Eskimos have done many, many smart things. And they’re about to do another one.

In November 2007, Eric Tillman's Saskatchewan Roughriders won their first Grey Cup since 1989. (Bryan Schlosser/Regina Leader-Post)

Today, the Eskimos will officially announce that Eric Tillman will become their new general manager. As a CFL GM, he has won the Grey Cup three times with three different teams. And, on January 4, 2010, he also pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting his sixteen-year old babysitter. And that last little tidbit of information is completely irrelevant – and should be – as the Eskimos move into the future. (more…)

In 2007, Rob Murphy was named the CFL's Outstanding Offensive Lineman. Yesterday, he was named the CFL's Outstanding Twit.

Toronto Argonauts’ offensive lineman Rob Murphy has been fined by the Canadian Football League and the Argos for violating their social media policy by sending inappropriate tweets. Apparently Murphy, as @bigmurph56, wrote about “smelling foreigners this early in the A.M.” and that the “novelty of riding on a train thru Ontario and ‘Frenchland’ has worn out….get me off this damn thing!!!!” Don’t bother looking for the tweets. They have been removed from Murphy’s account. Same thing that happened to Murphy’s common sense. Removed. (more…)

The CFL took a progressive step when it allocated its broadcast rights exclusively to TSN in 2008. CBC had aired CFL games from 1952-2007.

Fans of the Canadian Football League are very lucky – because we get to watch each and every CFL game on TSN. Live production of a CFL game is an extremely difficult task. Trust me when I tell you the game moves lightning quick in the production truck. Far faster than it appears on television. It’s easy to fall into “comfortable” coverage and replay patterns, without really stopping to think, “Are we giving the viewers the best, most informative look at this game possible?” That’s why, when televising any live sport, the entire production crew and commentators must be on the same page when it comes to show philosophy. Here are five things noticed during TSN’s season première from Regina – five things that show why they do a fine job. (more…)